According to E! Online, Bomer told the audience: "When I was in high school, there was no safe haven, there was no outlet for you to speaking your mind.

"So I did what any self-preserving 14-year-old would do - I signed up for the school play and also the football team to cover my tracks. When that happens, when you aren't allowed to speak about who you are, one of the most authentic parts of who you are, which is who you love or is who you're attracted to, feels invisible.

"GLSEN gives visibility and authenticity to kids all across the country."

The 34-year-old actor, who has three sons with Halls, spoke of how his children had also helped to shape his worldview: "Having kids teaches you so many things, and one of the things we both have learned in our parenting journey is how loving and accepting and open children's minds and hearts are."

"Unfortunately, in some parts of the country, some kids are taught at an early age that being different is somehow bad or wrong or worthy of ridicule... Kids aren't born to be bullies, they're taught to be bullies."